WHITLEY CITY, Ky. — Two firefighters who discovered a burning house and attempted a rescue, were badly burned. One firefighter sustained burns to 90 percent of his body.
Lt. Arlie Hill and Lt. Adam Stephens came upon the house fire about 10:30 p.m. Friday. Both made entry, but Lt. Hill became trapped, according to the Herald-Leader.
Lt. Hill sustained burns to 90 percent of his body and is in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Lt. Stephens rescued Lt. Hill and suffered burns to his face and arms; he is expected to make a full recover.
“It’s all this brotherhood of firefighters. I lifted my head up off the table and there’s four dozen Dunkin’ Donuts and two gallons of coffee. Last night, this page went up on Facebook, Prayers for Pooh. Just overwhelming. Thousands of people are on there. I’ve seen people from California, Hawaii, Canada,” Brian Hill, Arlie’s brother, tells WKYT.
Brian Hill says the news from doctors hasn’t been good, but his brother has surprised them, according to the report.
“The main thing right now is for everybody to keep praying. The prayers chains have to be helping. Something worked. The doctors said it couldn’t get better and it did,” Brian Hill said.
Whitley City Fire Department is an all-volunteer department. Pine Knot Fire Department, which struck the fire, is also a volunteer department.